Michael eitnstetlee



(M d l e) RUNSTETLER. -Seeding Machine.`

No. 240,463 Patented April 19,1881.

ulllllluullll( NJETERS. PHOYO-UTHOGRAPHER WSNINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

MICHAEL RUNSTETLER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FARMERS FRIEND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SEEDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,463, dated April 19, 1881.

Application filed February 1, 1881.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, MICHAEL RUNSTELLER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have ir ented certain new and useful Improvements in5eeding-Machines, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates essentially to im prove- .ments in the rotary dropping mechanism of 1o seeding-machines, more particularly to that class known as corn-planters.

, It consists, iirst, of a reciprocating slide having gravitatin g pawls arranged upon it within the circle of the seeding-holes ot' the rotating I 5 dropper-plate, in combination with a peculiarshaped star-Wheel rotating in a horizontal plane around and held in position by astud or pivot on the bed or supporting-plate and connected to the rotating seed-wheel by crank- 2o pins or studs.

My invention consists, in the second part, in the use of lugs upon the reciprocating slide, which, in combination with the gravitating pawls and lugs upon the star-wheel, act as stops to impart positive intermittent motion to the seed-wheel, and the arran gement of these lugs is such as to absolutely prevent thelocking of the seeding mechanism.

My invention consists, in the third part, in

3o the provision of a spring cutoi` which is arranged above the circular series of seedholes, and is located in a housing or boxing on the upper plate or cap, in which it works on trunnions in bearings made in the housings,

3 5 the said cut-oft` being provided with ashoulder abutting the forward depending wall of the housings, from which point it projects forward and rests upon the seed-plate.

Another feature of my invention consists in 4o the Inode of attaching a spiral spring to the upper side of the eut-off, so as to regulate its movements. The object of thus constructing and arranging the cut-oli' is, first, to prevent dust, chai, and dirt from coming in contact .with the spring, trunnions, and other parts of the cut-off which are on the inside of the housing, and thereby secure an easy and accurate adjustment and operation of the cut-off. To

(Model.)

enable this adjustment to be easily made the cap of the housing is made of peculiar shape, 5o and is held in position by means of a bolt, which secures both the cap and cut-oftl in position and, second, the construction and arrangement ofthe spring cause it to Work with great accuracy and durability.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, representing the seed-box of a planter with the upper plate or cap in position. Fig. 2 is a plan view'of the dropping device, showing the cap removed, the slide-bar being 6o at the termination of the stroke and ready for the return. Fig. 3 isa plan view of the same, showing the dropper-plate and the stationary plate below it removed, a portion of the slidebar being broken away. Fig. 4 is a vertical 65 sectional elevation on line :v x, Fig. 1, but showing the feed-box removed. Fig. 5 is a broken longitudinal elevation of one end of the upper plate or cap at which the cut-oft' and its box are located. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal 7o sectional elevation on line y y of Fig. l. Fig.

7 is al plan view of the cut-oft'. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the device which rotates the dropper-plate, motion being communicated thereto by the pawls on the sliding plate.

A represents an ordinary seed-box or hopper of a corn-planter orseeding-machine. It is constructed with an open bottom for the reception a'nd operation of the dropping mech- 8o anism.

B represents the base-plate of the dropping mechanism.

C represents the slide.

C represents the gravitating are hinged between ears which are cast on slide C. These pawls are arched or bent so that they will reach over the lugs (1,'with their front end resting on the plate or slide C.

c represents stops, which are made of the 9o form shown, so that as they approach lug d they will not catch upon the point of the lug and lock the device.

D represents the star-Wheel.

D represents crank-pins, which connect the 95 starwheel with the seeding-Wheel F.

pawls, Which d represents the lugs or teeth of the starwheel.

d' represents the lugs beveled off, the object of which is more readily to raise the pawls as they are alternately lifted by the lugs in their backward movement. These bevels d' are not essential, as the pawls C' may be bent sufficiently to arch over the lugs d.

b' represents elevated ledges projecting upward from the base-plate B a sufticient distance, so that the annular ring E and the seedwheel F are supported above the pawls C', allowing sufficient vertical space between the plate E and reciprocating slide Cfor the pawls 4D to rise and fall as they alternately pass over lugs d in the act of intermittingly rotating the star-wheel D. This space between the parts E and G is very important, as it allows the gravitating pawls to be brought within the circles of the seed-holesf, to alternately engage and pass over the lugs d. These gravitating pawls are very positive in their motion, and in order that they may be employed in a cornplanter which uses a check-rowing device it is necessary that they be brought within the circle of the seedhole f, so that a short reciprocating movement of the slide C will rotate the seed-wheel, and the shorter the stroke of the slide C the easier and more accurate will be the operation ofthe check-rower. The annular plate E is rigidly fastened to ledges b' by bolts or rivets e.

b" represents a slot cut in the side of the base B, to provide a passage for the seed.

The annular plate E is made of the usual form, and forms a bed or base for the rotating seed-plate F, and the annular plate is cut away to form an opening or passage similar to b", in order to permit the seed to drop as the holes f are progressively carried over the opening. The seed-wheel F is provided with a central bridge, through which are pierced two holes for the reception of studs D' on starwheel l). These holes should rather loosely it stud-pins D', to prevent the binding of the parts, and yet sufficiently close to obtain a positive uniform motion ofthe parts D and F.

G represents the bridge or top plate covering the seeding devices.

g vrepresents a ledge or lug projecting from the top ofthe plate in rear of the cut-oif.

H' represents projecting flanges, which act as guides, and between which the cut-oft' I rises and falls. It is provided with trunnions i, on which it turns.

H represents a cap of peculiar shape, which fits upon the ledges g and H', and forms a complete boxing or cover for the rear portion of the cut-olf plate I.

h' represents the forward end of this cap, which is brought to a knife-edge at the bottom and closely abuts the shoulder I' and makes a close fit, 4to prevent chaff and dust place and secures the ready movement of the cut-oft' I.

h represents a pin or stud projecting from cap H downward into the socket of the boss I'.

h" represents a screw-bolt, which secures the cap H to the plate G. This form of construction of the cap is quite important, as it allows accurate fitting ofthe parts 7L, I, and I', and securely holds the parts in proper position, making a tight housing for the cut-off pawl I, and secures its positive operation. This is a great improvement, as the operation of this cut-off secures a uniform charge in each of the holes f as the seed-wheel F is rotated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with the elevated hori- Zontal seed-wheel and the star-wheel connected therewith, of the reciprocating slide provided with stops c and gravitating pawls C', adapted to rise and fall in a vertical plane, and a'rranged. upon the face of the slide to move within the circle of seed-holes in the seedwheel, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the horizontal seedwheel and the wheel D, having radial lugs d, of the reciprocating slide C, having fixed stops c and arched gravitating pawls C', pivoted upon the slide and arranged. to rise and fall in a vertical plane within the circle of seed-holes in the seed-wheel and to span the lugs d, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the base B, having Vertical ledges b', the annular plate E, attached to the upper ends of said ledges, the seedwheel F, arranged above the annular plate, the star-wheel arranged below the annular plate and adjacent to the base, and connected with the seed-wheel by vertical arms or pins, and the reciprocating slide C, having stops c, and gravitating rising and falling pawls arranged to engage the lugs of the star-wheels, substantially as described.

4. The covering-plate G, provided with the upwardly projecting end lug, g, and side flanges, H', in combination with the cap H, bearing at one end against the lug g and partially inclosing the trunnioned cut-oft` I, the forward end of the latter being guided by the flanges H', substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the trunnioned cut-oftl I, having the vertical boss I', with the xed cap H, having the depending front end, h', provided with a knife-edge closely abutting against the outer edge of boss l', substantially as and for the purpose described.

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6. The combination of the trunnioned cut- In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my o I, having the vertical recessed boss I', with hand in the presence of two subscribing wit;- t-he fixed cap H, having the depending stud h nesses.

and a, depending front end, h', and the spring MICHAEL RUNSTETLER. 5 J, encircling the stud on the cap and resting Witnesses:

in the recess of the boss, substantially as de- HARRY H. PRUGH,

scribed. WARREN MUNGER. 

